Archives for April 2001

A healthy dose of clichés sits waiting for both teams in their return to Philadelphia. The hometown Flyers have to respond to the timeworn motto of "do or die" -- their season hangs in the balance with no recourse but to win to stay alive. For the Sabres, it's a simple matter of “don't put off until tomorrow what you could do today.” … [Read more...] about Sabres-Flyers Game 5 "Scouting Report"

Philadelphia has solved Dominik Hasek. Yes, it is true. He is not in their heads; they do not walk away from the net shaking their heads. The Flyers have been beat by the Sabres' offense. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Flyers Game 5 "Edge Matchups"

'There is no doubt they are in firm command of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with the Philadelphia Flyers, but along the way the Sabres have flirted with disaster.' … [Read more...] about Sabres allow little margin for error

'The Philadelphia Flyers met the media Wednesday armed with all the standby cliches that befit a 3-1 series deficit.' … [Read more...] about Flyers sound almost resigned to fate

'Kalinin, the Sabres' lone rookie, has been a significant contributor to the success of the Sabres' defensive sextet. He even recorded an assist on the winning goal in his NHL postseason debut.' … [Read more...] about Kalinin has been solid . . . knock on wood

'Amerks' president Steve Donner intends to intensify talks with the Sabres and other interested teams, and he wants to sign an affiliation contract by mid May at the latest. He says his ownership group no longer wants to work with a parent team that is unwilling to share more of the costs of the veteran core of players that is vital to winning, franchise marketability … [Read more...] about Amerks wait for affiliate decision

'Time and again these last several years, the Flyers have gotten to the postseason and their big guns have gone silent, their veteran leadership wilting under pressure.' … [Read more...] about Flyers' last stand hinging on their veterans

'"Primeau is so strong on the face-offs, and he was coming across with a lot of force, and my sticks were blowing up on me," Brown said. "Dominik looked at me and said, 'You need to get a different stick for face-offs in our end.' So I went and got a one-piece, and that's what I played with in the overtime."' … [Read more...] about Sabres' Brown may stick with the one-piece tonight

'"You can use past experience with New Jersey from last year, but I think the first 10 minutes are the most important 10 minutes in the series," Tocchet said, referring to tonight's game. "If we can jump out to a lead and get the fans behind us and show Buffalo there is still a will to win, then they've got to play another game, and you never know … [Read more...] about Battered Tocchet isn't giving up

'Curtis Brown has become a strong candidate for series MVP, if such an award were given. His dominance on face-offs, strong defense, and scoring capability have been factors in every game.' … [Read more...] about Sabres at Flyers

'Few people really covet a chance to experience Buffalo in the springtime twice in the same week, but Flyers coach Bill Barber would like nothing more.' … [Read more...] about First prize: A trip to Buffalo

'Their charge tonight against the Buffalo Sabres is to begin something that no team in the history of the franchise has done - a comeback from a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series. Even with two of the three potential games at home, even given the closeness of the series so far, the odds against the Flyers' success are obvious.' … [Read more...] about LeClair era deserves a grander finale

'Seven times they've stared at do-or-die games. Seven times they've died.' … [Read more...] about Do or die

'Since leaving the Flyers after 108 games in Philadelphia, Gratton has never fulfilled his 30-goals-per-year promise. But he has become a solid player with the Sabres and right now he's killing his old team. He's the only player with points in all four games (three goals, two assists) and should get strong consideration for series MVP.' … [Read more...] about Gratton finding his niche

'They'll carry with them a couple of heavy historical footnotes: - The Flyers are 0-10 all-time in best-of-uh-oh-seven series in which they trailed three games to one. - The Flyers are 0-for-their-last-6 in possible playoff elimination games, dating to a win against Montreal that staved off demise in Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern Conference finals.' … [Read more...] about Season quickly headed to ‘E.R.’